Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Report Cites Five Tactics To Reduce Spending in U.S. Health Care System

The U.S. health care system could save $3.6 trillion across a decade by addressing operating inefficiencies, reducing fraud and encouraging healthy lifestyles,Â according to a recent report from Thomson Reuters, Reutersreports.

Adopting these "common-sense" strategies would slash health care waste by 5% annually across 10 years, according to Thomson Reuters, which last year reported that the U.S. health care system wastes roughly $700 billion annually.

To compile the report, Thomson Reuters analyzed current initiatives and reviewed published studies to determine the impact of various waste-reduction measures (Fox, Reuters, 6/14). The report recommends five successful strategies and six specific targets to reduce waste, including:

Promulgate a "culture of health": Encourage individuals to manage their health and promote medical home models (Thomson Reuters report, June 2010);

Reform payment: Simplify the billing process and reduce opportunities for fraud and abuse;